Para 8.3.5 — CONSULT_MANUAL

2. The Procuring Entity reserves its right to, but without any obligation to do so, to seek any shortfall information/ documents only in case of historical documents which pre-existed at the time of the Bid Opening, and which have not undergone change since then. Provision may be made by eProcurement portals to allow shortfall documents to be asked for (specifying a target date for submission, as in sub-para above) and taken from any bidders after the technical bid opening. (Example: if the Permanent Account Number, registration with GST has been asked to be submitted and the bidder has not provided them, these documents may be asked for with a target date as above). As far as the submission of documents is concerned regarding qualification criteria, after submission of the tender, only related shortfall documents should be asked for and considered. For example, if the bidder has submitted a supply order without its completion/performance certificate, the certificate can be asked for and considered. However, no new supply order should be asked for to qualify the bidder.

3. Ministries/ Departments/ CPSEs with a significant volume of procurement may develop a data-base of QR data of different bidders to minimize the time taken to ascertain QR compliance. Bidders may also be given viewing rights for its own data. In such case, over and above the documents submitted by the bidder in its bid, the above data-base may also be considered irrespective of the fact whether or not such data/details have been declared by the bidder in its bid.

8.3.5 Clarification of Bids/Shortfall Documents 1. During evaluation and comparison of bids, the purchaser may, at his discretion, ask the bidder for clarifications on the bid, in a consolidated manner, ordinarily not more than once. The request for clarification shall be given in writing by registered/ speed post/ courier/ email/ eProcurement portal (CPPP/ GeM), asking the bidder to respond by a specified date, mentioning therein that, if the bidder does not comply or respond by the date, his tender will be liable to be rejected. Depending on the outcome, such tenders are to be ignored or considered further. No change in prices or substance of the bid, which may grant any undue advantage to such bidder, shall be sought, offered, or permitted. No post-bid clarification at the initiative of the bidder shall be entertained.